Plainview's Main Street gets national honor

Published 6:00 pm, Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Plainview has been recognized as one of 52 National Main Street Cities in Texas by the Texas Historical Commission and the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Cities chosen as National Main Street Cities must show above average performance in 10 categories.

The selection criteria focus on planning, staff and volunteers, preservation ethic, training and program assessment.

"It was an honor to accept this award on behalf of the City of Plainview, the city council and all of the individuals, businesses and groups whose dedication and hard work in our historic downtown district have made this recognition possible," said Eric Turner, director of Plainview's Main Street/Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The THC's Texas Main Street Program is a revitalization program for historic downtown and neighborhood commercial districts.

It is based on a four-point approach - organization, design, promotion and economic restructuring, all within the context of historic preservation.

Implemented in 1981, the program has assisted more than 140 communities throughout the state.

Other 2009 National Main Street Cities in the area are: Amarillo, Canyon, Colorado City, Levelland, Odessa and San Angelo.

"A lot of hard work goes into achieving this recognition," said Debra Farst, state coordinator of the Texas Main Street Program.

"Main Street communities exemplify the Texas mystique and this recognition honors the many people, including Main Street managers and volunteers, who put in countless hours to make their Main Street programs work," Farst explained.

"The result is an active and successful downtown revitalization effort that benefits not only the Main Street district, but also the entire community."

The cities were honored at the recent Texas Downtown Association/Texas Main Street Conference in Temple.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation's National Main Street Center will honor these cities at the 2009 National Main Streets Conference to be held in Chicago in March.